Surigao del Norte solon frames master plan for
Siargao Tourism
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 24 (PIA) –
First district representative of Surigao del Norte Cong. Francisco Jose 'Bingo'
Matugas II recently formulated a Comprehensive Tourism Master Plan for Siargao
Island pursuant to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Administrative Order No. 2013-09, otherwise known as the Guidelines on
Eco-Tourism Planning and Management in Protected Areas.
In the past five years, under the administration of
Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas, tourist arrivals averaged at a growth
of 31.92 percent, with a total of 179,960 tourist arrivals last year.
Tourism has experienced unprecedented boost over
the years since surfing and game fishing, originally conceptualized by then
Gov. Francisco 'Lalo' Matugas, were calendared as regular annual international
events resulting to a surge of foreign and local investments.
More than being a tourist's paradise, the island is
also characterized by its rich natural diversity.
On the basis of Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise
known as the National Integrated Protected Area System Act, Siargao Island
Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) was established.
The Department of Tourism recognizes Siargao as
both a major tourism jewel and a crucial biodiversity site.
In order to expedite the economic development of
Siargao, the plan preparation was structured to cover preparatory activities on
the way to becoming a Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ), participatory governance
with proactive involvement of local host communities and partner stakeholders,
as well as technology transfer and tourism data banking for implementation,
monitoring and evaluation.
The scope of work involves research, coordination
and consultation, market and product development, spatial analysis,
environmental examination, water, energy, and waste management plan, human
resources, social investigation, infrastructure, and financial study, on top of
institutional and policy analysis. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Caraga RIACAT-VAWC members celebrate world day
against trafficking
By Abegail R. Alvarez
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 24 - The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga through the Protective Services Unit
(PSU) together with the members of Regional Inter-agency Council Against
Trafficking-Violence Against Women and their Children (RIACAT-VAWC) led the
celebration of the World Day Against Trafficking held recently at Robinson’s
Place, here.
Activities such as logo making contest and dance
drama competition for high school students which focused on the theme, “Ituloy
ang Laban Kontra Human Trafficking”, were conducted during the celebration.
In her welcome message, Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) Regional Director Renell D. Martinez expressed her gratitude to
all RIACAT-VAWC members, students, teachers, and other partner-stakeholders who
joined the activity.
On the other hand, PCSupt. Rolando B. Felix,
Regional Director of PNP, the event's speaker, highlighted the importance of
strengthening efforts in combating the modern-day slavery which commonly
victimizes the vulnerable sector.
“This is the time for a massive information
campaign to the public. We must strengthen our efforts in combating trafficking
in persons and bring hope to those who suffered injustice,’’ said Felix.
For the dance drama competition, Libertad National
High School won first prize and received the amount of P8,000 with a trophy,
while Butuan City School of Arts and Trades (BCSAT) and Saint Michael College
of Caraga got the 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Other schools who
participated the said competition are Agay National High School, Nasipit
National Vocational School, Magallanes National High School, Philippine
Electronics and Communication Institute of Technology (PECIT), Banza National
High School, and Agusan National High School.
For the logo making contest, Joseph Ian B. Onyot
from CSWD of Bayugan City was declared the grand winner and received P5,000
worth of cash prize and a trophy. Other contestants include representatives
from PNP, DepEd-AdN, DOJ, TESDA, DOH, DTI, PIA, DILG, and SPO-AdN.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted in 2010
the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons urging governments
worldwide to take coordinated and consistent measures to defeat this scourge
and later in 2013, adopted resolution A/RES/68/192 and designated July 30 as
the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons declaring the day necessary to
“raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the
promotion and protection of their rights.”
As chairperson of the RIACAT-VAWC, the DSWD in
collaboration with other member agencies continues to conduct various advocacy
activities to end human trafficking. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
LGU Dinagat Islands eyes SGLG hall of fame
By Meltzimar T. Piquero
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Aug. 24 (PIA) – The
provincial government of Dinagat Islands has been the recipient of the Seal of
Good Local Governance (SGLG) award by the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) for two consecutive years.
This year, the provincial government doubled its
best efforts to pull all resources to elevate its stature to the Hall of Fame
for SGLG.
Recently, the Regional Assessment Team conducted a
regional assessment of the core and essential areas based on its flagship, the
Seal of Good Local Governance- Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng
Pamahalaang Lokal.
Unlike the previous years, this year’s criteria
involved seven areas of indicators that are classified into the core and
essential areas.
The core areas comprise the indicators on Financial
Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, and Peace and Order
(formerly an essential area) while essential areas include Business
Friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Management, and Tourism,
Culture and the Arts.
The regional assessment team evaluated the
voluminous documents covering all the indicators prescribed for SGLG
assessment. Afterwards, the team conducted an area validation particularly the
physical structures in hospitals and the ramps and comfort rooms for Persons
with Disabilities (PWDs) if they conform to the standard required measurements.
On transparency aspect, to keep track of the
expenditures and he flows and outflows of finances of the LGU, the Full
Disclosure Policy bulletin boards situated in three conspicuous places namely:
Philippine Ports Authority, Public Market and Provincial Capitol Lobby were
also evaluated by the regional assessment team.
Generally, the validation generated laudable
feedbacks from the team in which majority of the indicators were met. The
results guaranteed the province an edge to win this year’s SGLG and to be
included the Hall of Fame.
Accordingly, numerous privileges will be given to
the province if the award will again be obtained for three straight consecutive
years.
The most coveted prices include access to different
program window form National Government Agencies, continuing capability
development opportunities and loans, and a bigger Performance Challenge Fund.
The Regional Assessment Team composed of DILG,
Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Environment Management Bureau (EMB), Philippine
National Police (PNP), and representatives from non-government organizations. (PIO-Dinagat
Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
